McHenry Times

Issued the following announcement on Oct. 27

In response to the proposed demolition of the historic Bell Bowl Prairie as part of the Chicago Rockford International Airport expansion project, Natural Land Institute will lead concerned residents and environmental groups in announcing a challenge temporarily halting construction. Thousands of Illinoisans have already expressed support for an alternative project design that would preserve the 8,000-year-old prairie while maintaining anticipated airport services and jobs.

The Bell Bowl Prairie is a rare remnant prairie where, just this year, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a federally endangered species, was observed. Less than 1/100th of 1 percent of native prairie landscape remains in Illinois. If lost, the Bell Bowl Prairie can never be replaced.

WHAT:Press Conference

SPEAKERS:

Kerry Leigh - Natural Land Institute, Executive Director

Lindsay Keeney - Illinois Environmental Council (Conservation Director)

Steven Hall - Sierra Club (North West River Valleys Group Co-Chair)

Brad Roos - Sustain Rockford (President)

Judith Barnard -  Natural Land Institute (Vice President)

WHEN:        Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at 11 a.m.

WHERE:     Rockford, IL and available by ZOOM.  Winnebago County Courthouse, northwest corner of S. Church and Elm Streets, downtown Rockford, IL.

Reporters who cannot make it in person are invited to participate via Zoom where they will be able to ask questions via the chat/Q&A. Registration required. Please do not share this link publicly: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5sjJa9kjTTywPitQQtstGQ